Hi all! Can anybody who is done with his/her course give us some info about the career prospects, challenges that recent LLM grads face? Further, any info regarding the prospects of human rights LLM would be welcome. Thanks!

Hello! I recently graduated from GW Law with and LLM in Business and Finance and I will be totally honest with you. NO NOT EXPECT TO FIND A JOB HERE. Sorry for the caps but in our class of about 145, I know of about six (including myself) who are employed right now. They are from Brazil and Europe (I am from the Caribbean). Some of them had jobs before and well, since I have lived in the US off and on for 10 years, I had created a network here. You simply cannot find a job without networking here.

I know a few Desi students who found jobs as interns and are now leaving to go back to India and Pakistan because they can't find something more permanant here.

If you have a job waiting for you back home then this is perfect. Otherwise, consider whether the steep costs will be worth it for you.

Cheers,

~Jitana

Thanks a lot Jitana! That's a really important consideration for me. May i ask you a few more questions?

Have the foreign LLM candidates found jobs in jurisdictions other than their home countries? While i intend to eventually return to India, i was hoping to get some global exposure in my area of study (human rights) and I'm not restricting myself to US openings.

Also, does a JD+LLM program improve one's career prospects in comparison to an LLM?

Thanks a lot!

You wrote:

>>Thanks a lot Jitana! That's a really important consideration >>for me. May i ask you a few more questions?

Sure.

>>Have the foreign LLM candidates found jobs in jurisdictions >>other than their home countries? While i intend to >>eventually return to India, i was hoping to get some global >>exposure in my area of study (human rights) and I'm not >>restricting myself to US openings.

Quite a few of the Indian students were already coming from Law Firm families or, had steady jobs over there and were getting sponsored to further their education in a concentration such as IP.

I know one or two who found jobs outside of the US and their home countries (An Indian guy is working in Dubai).


>>Also, does a JD+LLM program improve one's career >>prospects in comparison to an LLM?

Actually, in a way yes. The JD is universally recognized and respected here. Again, it depends on your goals, your network and a score of other things.

Most importantly though, I think your immigration status can help or impede you -- Most employers these days are just not willing to go through the expensive hassle of sponsoring foreigners on student visas.

>>Thanks a lot!
>>How do you get a job outside the US, will be the issue. If >>you worked for some firm or organization which will hire >>you, then maybe.

>>Law is pretty jurisdictional and "international lawyers" don't >>really exist. So, your LL.M. will train you to be a lawyer in >>the US, no more, but in the eyes of the U.S. employer way >>less.

>>A JD in the US is equally worthless, without more. It's really >>that bad folks.

A JD or an LLM in the US is not useless. A person who doesn't network is going to get no where. In my case, I found a niche and continued to work on that area, eventually writing my thesis on it and that helped.

In my experience, the Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Koreans each found their own respective groups, made little comfortable cliques, rarely venturing out. Do not make that mistake!

Hope this helps.

~Jitana

Thanks Olivers... For ur detailed response.. Really appreciate..

Hi!

Can someone please clarify whether 2 LORs for HLS should be okay (that's the minimum) - or will it be disadvantageous, given that HLS recognises, and is infact correct, that almost all applicants submit 3!

Anyone particularly with personal experience on this one?

Thanks.

Is there any new information on job prospects?

Have they improved? Any chance of finding a job and staying back in the US?

...

Any updates anyone?

Any Indians graduated in 2014 or to graduate in 2015 ... what are the job prospects like? I hear the US economy is getting better.

Would it be worth going to the USA for llm now?

Can we get jobs now after LLM graduation?

Hey everybody, I am currently pursuing B.A. LLB(H) from India and quite inclined for doing LLM in International Business and Economics Law from Georgetown Law School . In regard of that I have certain queries, its a humble request to help me so as to sort them out , which are enumerated as below :

(1) Whether pursuing LLM in IBEL from GULC would be better or ITL from other American Universities.Please provide me with other options.

(2) Since this course is quite expensive (involving INR 7500000 from my side), considering the academics as well as living cost of Washington DC will it be fruitful for me as far as Return on INVESTMENT is concerned to engage in the same and any information in regard of career opportunity associated with this university as well as scope of International law in United States of America would be useful for me.

(3) Can I practice in Public International Law in spite of being graduated in the field of Private International Law cause I have interest in litigation and research in the area of International law which encompass both public as well as private international law.

(4) I want to practice my profession In USA , will it be helpful for me to appear in New York Bar Association exam .

(5) What is the minimum criteria set out for the grant of Green Card in United State of America and do law firm require such graduates who are inclined toward International Law.

(6) Apart from Law firm what could be the other alternative avenues I can explore in America.

(7) My brother has citizenship of America and he told me about the procedural aspect of visa, green card , citizenship as well as government job in USA , and to attain the sane is quite a tedious and onerous job. Will the upcoming elections in USA could hamper my chance with regard to aforementioned aspects.

I would be really obliged if patrons of this group could help me out in regard to the queries, so that I can make a smart decision .

Thanks You
(SAURABH SHARMA)

To answer you as best as I can:


1)Do your research and find something that actually interests you. Believe me. Employers can tell when you are interested in something vs not.

When you find that thing, write your research paper in it and that will give you an edge. The area of crypto-currency law and compliance is booming and I work in that field (wrote my research on it).

2)Only you can answer that. To live in the DC metropolitan area, expect to spend between US$40-60,000/yr on living expenses. Student housing options are cheaper and I know one Indian girl who paid in total about US$70,000 for the LLM AND living expenses.

3).I don't know.

4) If you want to take the bar exam, you need to state that to the school because there will be certain compulsory subjects you need to take.

5) Consult an immigration lawyer but in my experience, it is VERY difficult to get a work VISA after the OPT period is up.

6)I have a great job with a private company and it is not a law firm. Consider that law firms and clerking for judges are not the only direction to move in after law school.

7) I have no idea. Good luck and feel free to PM me.


~Jitana

Hey everybody, I am currently pursuing B.A. LLB(H) from India and quite inclined for doing LLM in International Business and Economics Law from Georgetown Law School . In regard of that I have certain queries, its a humble request to help me so as to sort them out , which are enumerated as below :

(1) Whether pursuing LLM in IBEL from GULC would be better or ITL from other American Universities.Please provide me with other options.

(2) Since this course is quite expensive (involving INR 7500000 from my side), considering the academics as well as living cost of Washington DC will it be fruitful for me as far as Return on INVESTMENT is concerned to engage in the same and any information in regard of career opportunity associated with this university as well as scope of International law in United States of America would be useful for me.

(3) Can I practice in Public International Law in spite of being graduated in the field of Private International Law cause I have interest in litigation and research in the area of International law which encompass both public as well as private international law.

(4) I want to practice my profession In USA , will it be helpful for me to appear in New York Bar Association exam .

(5) What is the minimum criteria set out for the grant of Green Card in United State of America and do law firm require such graduates who are inclined toward International Law.

(6) Apart from Law firm what could be the other alternative avenues I can explore in America.

(7) My brother has citizenship of America and he told me about the procedural aspect of visa, green card , citizenship as well as government job in USA , and to attain the sane is quite a tedious and onerous job. Will the upcoming elections in USA could hamper my chance with regard to aforementioned aspects.

I would be really obliged if patrons of this group could help me out in regard to the queries, so that I can make a smart decision .

Thanks You
(SAURABH SHARMA)

Can we get jobs now after LLM graduation?

Old thread .... march 2016 now .... what are the current propspects like, I'd imagine they've improved considering the US economy is now growing with the fed raising interest rates.

kats? Jitana? Anyone?

Is it worth spending the money now for an ivy league llm in terms of finding employment?

thanks in advanace

Old thread .... march 2016 now .... what are the current propspects like, I'd imagine they've improved considering the US economy is now growing with the fed raising interest rates.

kats? Jitana? Anyone?

Is it worth spending the money now for an ivy league llm in terms of finding employment?

thanks in advanace

This thread has been running since 2012, for previous cohorts what have the prospects been like?
Before I apply I want to know if its worth spending 70k to 100k on an LLM, in terms of finding a job in USA after graduation.

Have things changed under the Trump administration

I'd appreciate if graduates of 2014,2015,2106 could give tell us their view on whether it was worth the money & if they found jobs in US law firms.

Hey guys.
any Indians here applying for LL.M at US?
have you got any offer letters yet?
I applied in the first week of December ,
At Upenn , Berkley, GWU and Georgetown.
and Just Applied at Cornell too,
my LSAC evaluation is superior.
should I apply at more places or am I late?

Amita:

To say that it is tough for an LLM grad to get a job in the US is an understatement, but it is not impossible. However, if you are limiting that job to working for a "big firm" then maybe you are bordering on impossible.

Big law firms in the US are probably some of the most risk averse organizations in the world. If they are going to hire you, it is for one primary reason... you are going to bring a lot of new business to the firm.

The harsh reality is that LLM degrees do not get the same respect as JD degrees in the US. In addition to your LLM degree you will need to have significant experience plus a developed network before any 'big firm' would probably consider your application.

However, if you can set your sights lower and go to a region in the US where foreign LLM students are more rare, you can have a successful transition to a legal career in the United States.... if you work at getting a position from the day you start your LL.M. studies.

I have been teaching/mentoring LL.M. students for a decade now, first at Columbia and now in the hinterlands of Mississippi following my retirement. My experience has been that if a foreign LL.M. is willing to work at getting a position and they are not in the flooded markets on the coasts, they have been able to achieve success.

Amita:

To say that it is tough for an LLM grad to get a job in the US is an understatement, but it is not impossible. However, if you are limiting that job to working for a "big firm" then maybe you are bordering on impossible.

Big law firms in the US are probably some of the most risk averse organizations in the world. If they are going to hire you, it is for one primary reason... you are going to bring a lot of new business to the firm.

The harsh reality is that LLM degrees do not get the same respect as JD degrees in the US. In addition to your LLM degree you will need to have significant experience plus a developed network before any 'big firm' would probably consider your application.

However, if you can set your sights lower and go to a region in the US where foreign LLM students are more rare, you can have a successful transition to a legal career in the United States.... if you work at getting a position from the day you start your LL.M. studies.

I have been teaching/mentoring LL.M. students for a decade now, first at Columbia and now in the hinterlands of Mississippi following my retirement. My experience has been that if a foreign LL.M. is willing to work at getting a position and they are not in the flooded markets on the coasts, they have been able to achieve success.

[Edited by amita_gupta on Aug 16, 2017]

Well, since it is very clear from the above posts that it is not easy to get a job in the US simply based on an LLM, does anyone know about jurisdictions where firms are ready to hire foreign trained attorneys after an LLM (in the respective countries)? European nations, Australia etc?

I too would like to return to India, but only after working for a couple of years abroad and getting over student debt.